Inertia operated discharge control means



Jan. 10, 3950 P. H. MODERMOTT 2,494,052

INERTIA OPERATED DISCHARGE CONTROL MEANS Filed June 7, 1946 I I l k a IINVENTOR. "Dermott A T TORJVE Y S Patented Jan. 10, 1950 NI TED STATES OiF-Fl-CE INERTIA OPERATED DISCHARGE CONTROL MEAN S '7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing devices,and in particular to devices for dispensing granulated, or flaked, or co-mminuted dry material.

It is one object of this invention to provide an improved dispensing device for use with relatively finely divided material, such assoap powder, which is sold in standard packages or boxes and used therefrom.

It is a further object of this-invention to provide an improved dispensing device for use with packaged or boxed material which prevents waste and spilling of said material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device having means for securing the device readily to a commercial package or box of relatively finely divided materiaLsuch as a soap powder product.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provided an improved dispensing device wherein means are provided for dispensing the material in small quantities, so that excessive amounts of the material are not inadvertently poured from the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device of the character described, which is neat and attractive in appearance, and which may be readily attached 130501 removed from a box or package of finely divided material, such as soap powder.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: I I

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the upper portion of a box showing the invention attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical,cross-sectional View of the device, showing a portion of the box in dotted lines, and

Fig. 3 is an isometric view taken'from-the rear and underside of the device to show the structure of the interior thereof.

In the drawings, the numeral l9 designates a rectangular box, such as the boxes soap powder or detergents or other dry comminuted, flaked or granulated substances are sold. It is customary to provide in such boxes at the upper end of one end wall, perforations or other means for opening the box as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

This invention concerns means for covering or cappingsaid opening so that the material may be dispensed tromthebox in -a neat and orderly fashion. "The cap includes a rectangular'plate l I, substantially equalinfiength to the thickness of the -box I 0 and having dependingend plates -|-2 disposed at either end thereof. The plates l2 are equal in-wid'th to the plate 7 H, and are-adapted to depend in close engagement with the-side walls-of the -'-box to. Adishedsideplate 13 is formeddn'tegrally'wit-h the'top plate H and the end plates 12, and is in the form of a rounded pyramid having a rectangular base abutting the edges of said plates, whereby 'the plate forms apyramidal-spout*M-projecting laterally of the box :10. The spout M is adapted "to cover the opening formed in the box I!) and to receiv'ethe powder to be dispensed therefrom. The apex of the spout'is truncated to form an opening 15 directed laterally of the box It, and a pair of elongate bars Iii extend across the open inner side of the "spout-"between the junctures of the walls of the'spoutwith the end plates l2. The bars l6 extend perpendicularly to the end walls l2, and are equidistantly disposed "with respect toi-the upper and lower edges-of :said walls. Thus, the bars form "a grating between the space enclosed bythe' upper plate II .and the end plates 12, :andthat space enclosed within the conical configuration of the spout M.

A ball I! is disposed within the spout andQis of such a size "as "to beincapa-ble o'f'passi'ng through the opening l5 orbetween the bars l6 and the sidewalls of the spout. A plurality of projections -orteeth 1'8 are provided on the inner surface of the *top plate H "and upon the-inner surfaces "of the endplates l2. Since the box It! willusually bermade of cardboard or "some similar material, the "teeth I8 serve to engage and bite into the box so "as "to anchor thedispensing device more -'securely-t'hereto. "The teeth may be formed separately of the device "and fastened thereto in a "suitable manner for securing purposes. Forexamplathe bodyof the-device may be of plastic sardine-teeth formed'of metal or some other suitable material, or of plastic. And any desired means such as imbedding or crimping may be utilized to fasten the teeth in place.

This dispensing device may be made of plastic, or sheet metal, or cast from some light metal or made of any other suitable material. Any material may be used so long as sufficient strength and rigidityarje obtained. Any desirable or suitable materialmay be utilized for the ball l1.

In theloperation of this dispensing device, an opening is formed in the box In by any suitable means, such as cutting, or removing the perforated portions usually provided and referred to hereinbefore, or by any other suitable or desirable means. This opening is made at the upper end of one of the end walls of the box so that the material contained therein may be poured from the box. The dispensing device is slipped over that corner of the box in which the opening has been made so that the opening is more or less in alinement with the spout H. The dispensing device is now ready for use.

In using this dispensing device, the box In is inclined so as to cause the material therein to flow out through the opening into the spout. This tilting action causes the ball I! to engage within the narrower portion of the spout adjacent the opening l5 and prevent the exit of the material therefrom. The ball thus functions to prevent the pouring of excessive amounts of material from the box. Shaking of the box then causes the ball I! to bounce up and down within the spout and thus permits measured quantities of the material to flow from the opening l5. Most boxes of this type must be shaken to obtain the contents thereof, and such shaking usually results in a spasmodic supply of material, very little being obtained and then excessive quantities of the material being obtained. With this dispensing device, such excessive flows of the material are eliminated and no additional operations or efforts on the part of the user are required.- As much material as is desired may be obtained through this shaking action. However, the inadvertent pouring of a greatly excessive amount of material from the box is effectively prevented.

In the event the opening out Or otherwise formed in the box In is oversize, the bars l6 serve to prevent the ball I! from falling through said opening into the interior of the box. Obviously, they also function to retain the ball within the spout when the dispensing device is not in use.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing device including, a rectangular cap adapted to engage one corner. of a box, means for detachably securing the cap to the box, a spout formed on the cap and projecting laterally therefrom for conducting material from the box, a ball disposed within the spout, and bars extending transversely of the inner portion of the spout between the cap and the interior of the spout for retaining the ball therein.

2. A dispensing device including, a plate adapted to engage the end of a box containin matethe plates to the box, a spout extending laterally of the plates for receiving and conducting material frcm the box, a ball disposed within the spout, and bars extending transversely of the interior of the device adjacent the juncture between the spout and the plates for retaining the ball within the spout.

3. A dispensing device including, a rectangular cap having its bottom and rearward side open for receiving the corner of a box, the forward wall of the cap being extended to form a substantially conical spout having a discharge opening therein, a ball disposed within the spout, and bars extending transversely of the interior of the device adjacent the inner portion of the spout for retaining the ball therein.

4. A dispensing device including, a top plate adapted to engage the top of a box, a pair of depending end plates carried by the top plate and adapted to engage the sides of a box, a spout having its marginal edges joined to the edges of the top plate and the end plates so as to cause the spout to overlie the edge portion of a box when the device is positioned thereon, and means for retaining the device in position upon a box.

5. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining means includes inwardly directed projections carried by the top and the end plates for frictionally engaging the surface of the box engaged.

6. A dispensing device as set forth in claim 4, and bars extending transversely of the inner portion of the spout between the interior of the spout and the end plates.

7. A dispensing device including a top plate adapted to engage the upper end of a box, a pair of depending end plates carried by the top plate and adapted to engage the front and rear sides of the box, a spout carried by the top and end plates so as to overlie the upper end of one of the edge walls of the box upon which the device is positioned, said spout being in the form of a pyramid having a relatively wide angle apex and having its lateral corners rounded, transverse bars extending between those edges of the end plates adjacent the spout for engaging the edge wall of the box upon which the device is positioned, and a ball retained within the interior of the spout by said bars.

PHILIP H. MCDERMOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

rial to be dispensed, depending plates secured to I the first end-engaging plate for engaging the sides of the box, means for detachably securing UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,864,473 Rigby June 21, 1932 2,099,629 Schaetzel Nov. 16, 1937 2,324,337 Jomsland July 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,214 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1903 

